A win by TNT over Ginebra can shake up the race for the twice-to-beat advantages. (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinal seats may have already been taken, but on where the eight teams that will move on to the next round will end up is yet to be determined and will only be answered in the final weekend of the elimination round.

So far, only Blackwater, currently at 5-5 is assured of not making the Top 4, which will mean a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, but a win could keep the team from a quarterfinal date with a tougher opponent—and shut down Rain or Shine's (6-4) hopes of making the Top 4 as well.

There are still 64 possible scenarios in total, but these three could loom.

1. A three-way tie at 6-5

I already mentioned Blackwater possibly tying Rain or Shine at 6-5 with a win in their match on Saturday.

However, Star can also end up at 6-5 if the team splits its remaining two games—against Kia on Friday and against NLEX on Sunday. Based on the strength of schedule, it's very possible.

On which teams will finish sixth, seventh, and eighth will depend on the quotients, which will be affected by how the Elite will beat the Elasto Painters.

2. A five-way tie at 7-4

Another scenario to watch out is a long logjam at 7-4, and a maximum of five teams could end up there.

A win by ROS and a sweep of Star's remaining games will put them in a tie at 7-4 with NLEX.

If also-ran GlobalPort shocks Meralco (7-2) on Friday, the latter's game against San Miguel (7-3) on Sunday will assure that one team will fall to 7-4. The Beermen will fall to 7-4 if they lose to the Bolts regardless of what happens to the latter's game against the Batang Pier.

TNT (7-3) can also fall to 7-4 if it loses to Ginebra on Saturday.

3. A five-way tie at 8-3

Speaking of the match between the KaTropa and the Barangay (8-2), if the opposite happens, that is, the KaTropa defeat the Barangay, they will be tied at 8-3.

If the Bolts beat the Batang Pier but lose to the Beermen, both the Bolts and the Beermen will end up at 8-3 too.

A win by the Road Warriors over the Hotshots will put them too at 8-3.

The result: a five-way tie at 8-3—and at the top of the standings at that!

The dilemma: only four will have the quarterfinal bonus, meaning the team with the worst quotient will fall to the twice-to-beat disadvantage.

Disclaimer: Images, articles, or videos that exist here sometimes come from various sources of other media. Copyright is fully owned by the source. If there is a problem with this matter, you can contact us here.